The Doll House III, a controversial nightclub north of Pompano Beach that features nude dancing, can stay open while its owners seek a zoning change.

County officials had cited the club last month for being too close to homes and because it was located on land with the wrong zoning.

However, Shirley Maurer, the county`s land use supervisor, testified in federal court in Miami on Friday that the county couldn`t pursue the charges as long as the club`s owners were trying to get a zoning change.

Following Maurer`s testimony, the club`s attorney, Bruce Randall, said that the owners will seek a zoning change and also attempt to get a variance allowing them to operate within 500 feet of a residential area.

In the meantime, the federal lawsuit filed by the club`s owners against the county will be delayed, Randall said.

Randall filed the lawsuit last week, charging that the county`s zoning rules, including the provision preventing a nudie bar from being within 500 feet of a residential area, were unconstitutional.

``It`s an improper zoning provision infringing on the First Amendment rights of our client,`` said Randall, adding that he feared the county would close down the club at 3561 N. Federal Highway.

Meanwhile, the county attorney handling the case, Alexander Cocalis, predicted that the Doll House III would win its case anyway.